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Found 15 matching documents.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 5, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 5, 2026 (part 2)
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 1255 by substitute, with an amendment assigning responsibility for sending charging documents to the state rather than court clerks. Discussion focused on evidence-sharing deadlines, delays in criminal cases, and whether prosecutors have enough staff and technology to meet the requirements. The committee also heard HB 1322, which the presenter said would make rioting a felony. Three organizations opposed that bill, raising concerns about unclear language, penalties, protest rights, and bail restrictions. The chair postponed further consideration until the next morning without a vote.
Ben Sessions. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, y'all. I, I sit before you today as a hypocrite. Um, about 10 years ago I sat in a different room across the street, and I talked about why it is that you should, uh, you should vote against a reciprocal discovery bill Um, today I sit before you and tell you that you should vote in favor of...
I think a lot of times we lose sight of what happens just down the street, for example, in the busiest court in the State of Georgia, which is Fulton County State Court. In Fulton County State Court, you routinely have cases that will be accused in 18 months to 24 months after the date of arrest. Roughly two years. A defendant's case is accused, and then it...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 17, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard testimony on changes to self-defense immunity under SB 572, increased penalties for blocking transportation routes under SB 443, an animal-cruelty database under SB 587, sex-offender reporting and risk classifications under SB 468, and AI-generated obscene images under SB 398. Witnesses raised questions about arrest powers, protest rights, supervision resources, protections for teenagers, and liability for AI companies. The chair repeatedly reported that the committee lacked a quorum, and no votes were taken before adjournment. The chair also announced that SB 499 had been removed at the sponsor’s request and would return the next day.
Thank you. All right. Next up we have Amy Barnes. Yeah. Uh, here. My name is Amy Barnes. Pleasure to meet y'all. I'm a criminal defense paralegal with over a decade of experience in multiple counties, and I've worked on very high-profile cases, cases that have made worldwide news. Um, I looked at this, this bill, and regarding the officer at the scene, I...
And when you look at how a case progresses through our judicial system, it goes from arrest to warrant, your probable cause hearings are established, you have your arraignment just mentioned. The thing that is not mentioned, that I have not heard people talk about, is how Fulton County cases can take, oh, I don't know, eight years to get to trial. Would you...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 2, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 2, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 237, HB 1432 as amended, and HB 997 by substitute with amendments. Members heard presentations and testimony on HB 984 and HB 1395, but the transcript shows no votes on either. Discussion of HB 968, concerning a kratom ban, ended with the chair postponing action until Thursday over concerns about incorporating federal drug classifications into Georgia law. The committee also began reviewing a substitute for HB 1255, concerning the exchange of evidence in criminal cases, and continued that discussion until Thursday without a vote. The chair announced that HB 1142 had been removed from the day's agenda at the sponsor's request and would return Thursday.
This was previously within 10 days. A court can still order a different timeline. Lines 373 through 382 changes the timeline to within 30 days of arraignment, but no later than 30 days prior to trial for when the prosecution must provide witness statements. Lines 383 through 391 changes the timeline for when the state must furnish their witness information...
Section 5 requires that subpoenas for production of documentary evidence be served in accordance with OCGA 24-13-24. Section 6 adds definitions for child advocacy center, law enforcement support personnel, law enforcement unit, and peace officer. As I remind members, we are working on some language concerning child advocacy centers. This would require that...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · February 17, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 17, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced HB 1226, HB 675, HB 35, HB 1131 and HB 1075 after presentations and voice votes. Those measures address self-defense procedures, support for foreign terrorist organizations, special-prosecutor pay, notice of warrant application hearings and penalties for pimping after a trafficking conviction. The committee also heard HB 984, which would help investigators locate possible abuse victims who have moved, and planned to bring it back the following week. Members raised concerns about the scope and privacy rules of a proposed domestic violence registry in HB 1142, and the chair requested a revised version without taking a vote. After testimony raised concerns about the substitute for HB 421, concerning child enticement, the chair adjourned and said it would return Thursday.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, yeah, obviously, this is my community as well. Sheriff Long is our sheriff in, in Butts County, and, um, he and I have known each other a long, long time. Um, but to your point, I think that, yes, this is-- he's using that case as an illustration, but I think it's highlighted an issue that we have. This is, this has shown us a...
Um, so shifting back. So I guess my first question for the body would be, um, we're-- if we're looking at lines twenty-two through twenty-five, um... Shifting over, I wanna go to twenty-eight. Shift down. Uh, from twenty-eight through thirty-three, um, if, if I-- if we can contemplate, you know, what that means for law enforcement. 'Cause in my experience,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · February 25, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 25, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced HB 1226 on self-defense immunity, HB 821 on bail decisions for assaults against public safety officers, HB 1398 on alternatives to incarceration for pregnant and postpartum women, and HB 1282 on prosecution deadlines for aggravated sexual battery against children. Members amended HB 821 to cover aggravated assault against public safety officers beyond cases involving gunfire. HB 1154, which would expand the death penalty to trafficking offenses, failed for lack of a motion after constitutional concerns were raised. The chair requested more work on HB 1142, concerning a domestic violence registry, and HB 894, concerning review of long prison sentences. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 496, which would limit reliance on cannabis odor for police action. No vote occurred on that proposal because the committee lost its quorum.
And so I mean, I believe it should be on the table, um, for the jury if they want to give the, uh, death penalty. Okay, thank you. Representative Roberts. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, let me start by saying I agree with you, sex trafficking is horrendous and heinous, and by no means am I advocating that, um, for that or that anybody should get away with that....
Go ahead. Since I don't have any of my colleagues here, hope you'll indulge me a minute. Um, so I don't disagree, but this bill doesn't shorten any time, and the Supreme Court has found multiple times that the Eighth Amendment applies, and that the crime has to involve a death, which I think is probably the worst evil, is murdering, taking another life. Um,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · February 23, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved nine bills covering vehicle obstruction of law enforcement, firearm suppressors, sexual exploitation of vulnerable adults, interstate travel for child molestation, reckless stunt-driving vehicle forfeiture, sexual-assault evidence retention, zoo animal protections, controlled-substance scheduling and drug possession around children. Members debated whether existing laws already covered vehicle obstruction and whether removing state suppressor restrictions would hinder police responses to gunfire. The committee amended the stunt-driving proposal to require conviction before forfeiture and amended the child-endangerment proposal to address lawful medications and medical cannabis. Four other bills were postponed until Wednesday. All nine approved bills were sent to Rules, with no numerical vote totals announced.
And to your point, it is not the person who's convicted who would have a right to re- to keep that car. In fact, the title has to be transferred to such other family member who is a duly licensed operator, et cetera, et cetera. So it, it does not contemplate giving, keeping that title with the person who's causing the harm. It contemplates keeping the title...
Mm-hmm ... is that going to then ... Will they still be allowed to hold that vehicle? And if not, by the time this case gets adjudicated in a year, two years, maybe three years down the road, uh, are they going to be able to locate that vehicle, reclaim the ownership? What if it's been sold? You know, I, I just ... I'm curious about that, and I, I don't...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 5, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 5, 2026 (AM)
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 285, HB 984 and HB 1142, and rejected HB 682, which concerned death sentences based only on one eyewitness. After extensive testimony, members approved an amended HB 968 to restrict kratom sales to pharmacies and ban synthetic products. Members set aside HB 804 after questions about its proposed marijuana pardons. The committee also heard HB 496, concerning cannabis odor as grounds for searches, but took no vote before recessing until 12:30 p.m.
Yes.
Representative Leesa Hagan, House Bill 1142. You can fire when you're ready. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Do have a sub, uh, naturally. I think we've had 12 at this point. Uh, LC620467S. And just for brevity and time constraints that we do have, if you want to just explain what you changed within the sub. Absolutely. The main change in the sub you will find on...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 26, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 26, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved three bills for consideration by the Rules Committee. SB 572 would change procedures and burdens of proof for self-defense immunity claims. Witnesses disagreed about whether it would better protect defendants or complicate arrests and court proceedings. The committee narrowed SB 398 to language amending the existing peeping statute and added a knowledge requirement. The committee also approved a substitute for SB 61 addressing online impersonation, scams and certain violent-felony-related content, after removing provisions that a member said could conflict with federal protections for online platforms. The transcript does not establish a complete numerical vote tally for any bill.
If I'm an officer, I don't read this law to say that I have to have a hearing. I read this law to say that if they both claim, there's n- nothing in the bill that defines what a prima facie showing is. That means that they're saying, "I acted in self-defense." That is a prima facie showing without some standard attached to it. It doesn't say it needs to be...
The prosecution has zero risk. They can bring anything that they can get an indictment on, and they laugh about the fact that they can get an indictment on a ham sandwich. It's something we all laugh about, although it's not funny if you're the ham sandwich. So, um, the prosecution already has a very high burden on self-defense. When they go to trial as...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 6, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 6, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered eight bills and advanced HB 1322, concerning felony penalties for rioting, after the chair broke a tie against tabling it. The committee rejected HB 464, HB 1395, HB 1175, HB 1248 and HB 496, covering crime-victim immunity, in-person DUI classes, sentencing for theft of essential items, cannabis possession and cannabis-odor searches. Members also voted on HB 894, concerning review of long prison sentences, and HB 804, concerning marijuana pardons. The chair voted against both, but did not explicitly announce their final outcomes. The committee adopted an amendment to HB 496 before rejecting the bill and rejected an amendment to HB 804.
Jeez. All right. I'm gonna go real quick. Uh, Representative Derrick Jackson. And Representative, if you'll be as quick as you can.
Not particularly for this offense. Okay. All right. Any further discussion from members of the committee? Okay. Um, all right. We are already past 9:00, so we're gonna have to see what position the committee wants to put this bill in. Any, uh... Do I hear any move by anyone on the substitute for House Bill 804 LC 48-18-18S? Motion to pass. All right, we got...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 11, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 11, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard presentations and public testimony on SB 443, concerning penalties for blocking roads; SB 27, concerning doxxing; and SB 468, concerning reporting and risk classifications for registered sex offenders. Testimony raised questions about protest rights, protected speech, individualized risk assessments and monitoring people without stable housing. The sponsor of SB 468 expressed support for possible changes to its homelessness definition and classification language, but no amendments were adopted in the transcript. The committee lacked a quorum to vote, and no votes on the three bills were recorded before adjournment.
So, um, I think what the, the, as the bill sponsor said, there are protests that happen, um, where you submit a permit application, and the jurisdiction where you're protesting either approves the application or they don't, or they provide some feedback to that application asking you to make adjustments to it. Um, so pre-planned protests are widely...
Thank you for your time, and I'll yield for questions. Representative Panitch. Good morning. Good morning. Where has the court drawn the line between spontaneous... Where has the court drawn the line between spontaneous protests and time, place, manner restrictions? So the Supreme Court, I don't, to my knowledge, has not set a hard and fast rule about that....
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 18, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved SB 604, which would expand the attorney general’s role in criminal prosecutions, SB 605, which would add grounds for disciplining elected prosecutors, and SB 547, which would make first offenses of pimping and pandering felonies. The vote on SB 604 included one opposing vote. Members also heard testimony on SB 499, which would remove the general state prohibition on possessing silencers. Discussion focused on federal registration requirements, hearing protection, public safety and a proposed amendment restricting possession by people barred from having firearms. No vote on that bill or its amendment occurred in the transcript. The chair announced that the committee would continue the next morning at 8:30.
We're gonna stay in the days until we can get a senator down here.
That is. Okay. Um, I'm looking at the code here and I guess what I'm reading here is except which by order of a court of this state, I don't have my glasses on so I'm just kinda guessing here, or by law are specifically exempted from disclosure. So, um, I've had a case when I was DA that, um, caught national attention and they, everybody wanted to see the...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 24, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 24, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved SB 591, concerning disruptions of religious services and military funerals, and SB 468, concerning reporting, monitoring and risk classifications for registered sexual offenders. Witnesses supported the latter bill’s provisions for homeless offenders but opposed classifying people by their convictions rather than individual risk assessments. The committee also approved a substitute for SB 163 that replaced its weapons-related contents with criminal evidence-sharing rules, procedures for serving law enforcement officers and address privacy protections. Each approval was by voice vote, with no count stated. The chair said SB 398 would be reworked and brought back at Thursday’s meeting.
The board is, yes. And that all these volunteers, they're listed, you know, in our book here, um, that they are all experts of some kind with sexual molestation and sexual conduct in general, right? They are. Okay. And they're the ones who make the final determination. Mm-hmm. The governor appoints- Mm-hmm ... these board members. Um, and it is in your...
Uh, right now, members, we've had Senate Bill 163 in the belly of the committee for two sessions now, and the substance of that bill was already passed late last session. So you'll see an amendment or, uh, what's titled LC 590459S in your folders, and I'm going to offer that as a committee substitute to Senate Bill 163, which we will strip entirely,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · March 19, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, March 19, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved all five bills it took up. Discussion of SB 268 focused on protections for first responders, First Amendment concerns and adding step-grandparents to incest laws. The committee amended SB 499 to create a felony offense for certain silencer possession, then approved it despite a member's objections about public safety and the difficulty of proving the offense. The committee also approved SB 27, SB 443 and SB 587 without further substantive discussion. The chair noted one opposing vote on SB 443.
All right. Move to pass, second. Any amendments? Seeing none, all those in favor of the passage of Senate Bill 443 CSFA say, "Aye." Aye. All those opposed, same sign. Congratul- All right, one no. Congratulations, you're on the rules, Senator. Uh, Chairman Williams, Noel Williams. All right, Chairman Noel Williams will be carrying that. All right. Thank...
And this is, uh, SB 587FA. I believe we're in the posture for- Move to pass. All right, got a move to pass. Second. Got a second. Any amendments? Seeing none, all those in favor of the passage of Senate Bill 587FA say, "Aye." Aye. All those opposed, same sign. All right, it's on.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · February 6, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 6, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard public comment and debated SB 74, concerning librarians’ protection from criminal liability over materials considered harmful to minors. Members adopted an amendment tying that protection to compliance with governing authorities’ decisions and requiring training procedures for people reviewing complaints. They rejected an amendment removing homosexuality from the definition of sexual conduct. Supporters said the bill would protect children while preserving protections for librarians who follow board decisions. Opponents warned of censorship, criminal prosecution and costs for libraries and schools. The committee voted on the amended bill, including a show of hands, and the chair voted yes. The transcript does not include a vote count or an explicit announcement of the final result.
Thank you.
So that is my concern about what we're doing in this right now. I think the amendment is actually worse than what we had before, um, and gives more power to the school boards to chill books. Um, so thank you. Number six, Representative Panitch. Nope, I'm sorry. You can go to the next one. All right. Um, okay, we've had a robust discussion, uh, and thank...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee · February 5, 2026
House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, February 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard extensive testimony on SB 74, concerning libraries and access to material considered harmful to minors. Supporters said the proposal would protect children, while opponents raised concerns about access to books and legal risks for librarians. Members discussed an amendment tying liability to failure to follow a governing authority’s decision, but left the language unresolved and planned to meet again February 6 after House adjournment. The committee also approved HB 57, which the sponsor said would add step-grandparent and step-grandchild relationships to Georgia’s incest law.
I agree with you. So, yeah, yeah. But we, we heard the other day, and I know you were here and you testified. Yeah. Let me finish my question now. Sure. You heard individual lines being pulled out- Mm-hmm ... of books- Mm-hmm ... without any sense of what the context was, and people are ready to condemn those books because of that one line or two lines....
Correct. Or move it to a, a different section. Is that correct? That's correct. And- And we always let the patron know what the result of their materials reconsideration request was. And, um, but you don't know whether that applies to all public libraries or if that's just what you guys follow? Or- I believe the majority of public libraries follow this. I...
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